Mighty Oak The Old Man and The Sea

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	20 Aug 2026
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	20 Aug 2026
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	19 Aug 2026
Hogan Sampling		18 Aug 2026	Second beer of this visit: Now its third day on for this Essex-brewed black stout from Maldon and where brewing moved to in 2001 having first been set up in 1996 in Brentwood, Essex. Not now exuding as creamy a head as when poured on Sunday but still a good visible one. The lacing, I would say, actually sticking better than when first on a couple of days before. An espresso coffee and dark chocolate-infused dry maltiness in its first bite. I would also say its smoke-infused bitterness was now more evident than two days earlier and funnelling up from its UK First Gold and US Cascade. A dry fruited malty bitterness emerging from its floor-malted Maris Otter, flaked barley, roast barley and oats, before its sliding down my swallow. Still not bad conditioning and doing better in hanging onto its head and lacing than when fresh on.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	17 Aug 2026
Philip Pirrip		16 Aug 2026	Soon went flat in glass
Hogan Sampling		16 Aug 2026	First beer of this visit: Fresh on and presented with a very good creamy head and lacing on this Maldon brewed black stout and where brewing moved to in 2001 having first been set up in 1996 in Brentwood, Essex. A dry malty first hit with hints of espresso coffee and dark chocolate. A smoke-infused bitterness rising from its UK First Gold and US Cascade with dark fruits emerging. A dry malty bitterness emanating from its floor-malted Maris Otter, flaked barley, roast barley and oats, sliding downwards. Good conditioning but struggling to keep its head and lacing some minutes in.

Parkerville, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	11 Jul 2026
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	03 Aug 2024
Andrew		18 May 2021	I really good stout. Very drinkable. Dry but with a tart edge.
Andrew		21 Feb 2020	Black. Coffee. Smoke. Brandy.
Andrew	Not Tried	02 Oct 2019
Andrew	Not Tried	15 Jun 2019

The Three Pillars, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	27 Jun 2026
Hogan Sampling		02 May 2026	1st beer of this visit: Very good head and lacing presented on this Essex stout from Maldon and sticking all the way. A dry bitter first bite arising from its UK First Gold and US Cascade hops. Its Maris Otter, flaked and roast barley and oats, all contributing to its espresso coffee-infused and dark chocolatey flavours. A spicy maltiness winning over with hints of biscuity caramel joining in. A final hop surge before the sailing downwards. Served in good nick.
Hogan Sampling		11 Jan 2025	Superbly creamy head and lacing on this Maldon stout. Malty with liquorice and espresso coffee flavours in the mouthfeel. A dryness to die for in making it extremely moreish and with the merest hint of chocolate and the odd berry or two. A wonderfully malty, dry aftertaste.

The New Welcome Sailor, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

The Pub Herne Bay, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	04 Jun 2026
Andrew		18 Sep 2024
Andrew	Not Tried	15 Sep 2024

Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House), Addiscombe, Greater London

The Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	27 Mar 2026
Philip Pirrip		10 Mar 2020	Surprisingly good MO beer

The Elephant, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		24 Sep 2025	Silky smooth creamy with subtle coffee bitterness.
Andrew		19 Dec 2023	Tart black beer with black current fruity notes. Hint of powder.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	13 Feb 2020

Robin Hood, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		28 Sep 2024	Very good head and lacing. A real bitter and long-lasting mouthfeel for this stout.

Station Arms, Southminster, Essex

The Cotton Mill, Swanley, Kent

The Hop Beer Shop, Chelmsford, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		15 Feb 2022	Chocolate and coffee with a serious bitter kick

The Admiral's Arm, Queenborough, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Archie14		25 Jan 2020	Delicious smooth stout with hints of coffee and chocolate

Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Leyton, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	20 Dec 2019
ChrisE		20 Dec 2018
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	17 Oct 2017

Ales of the Unexpected, Westbrook, Kent

The Mayflower, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		23 Jul 2017	An oily, black Stout.